HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-01-27-TOUR2-minTown of Lexington
Tourism Committee
Minutes
January 27, 2025
Hybrid
Parker Room, Town Office Building and by Zoom
3:30 pm
PRESENT: Marsha Baker, Margaret Coppe (Chair), Bebe Fallick, Ting Fang, Pam
Fowler, Marie -Tristan Rago, Elsie Xu
Absent: Suzie Barry Select Board, Gardy Desrouleaux, Melissa Robbins
Staff Present: Sandhya Iyer, Jay Abdella
Guests: Mike Sperling and Janet Mansfield, Sperling Interactive
Peyton Dauling, Lexington Economic Development, Marketing
Margaret called the meeting to order at 3:35 pm. She read the authorization for
remote meetings.
A quorum was present.
Vote to call meeting to order: Marsha Baker, Aye; Margaret Coppe, Aye; Bebe
Fallick, Aye; Ting Fang, Aye; Pam Fowler, Aye; Marie -Tristan Rago, Aye; Elsie Xu,
Aye.
The vote was unanimous
Economic Development Report Sandhya Iyer
• People counter 94,432 for 2024 up 14% over 2023
• Visitor's Center Sales up 17% over 2023
• Battle Green Tours on-line up 24% over 2023
• Liberty Ride Trolley 47% 2024 over 2023
• Will be featured in Celtics yearbook
• Planning for 2026 FIFA in Boston
• $48, 000 grant from MOTT; will be used to produce a 5-7 minute animated
film which will be shown in the diorama room at the Visitor Center
• Mike Sperling presented the year end review of the Tourism website for
2024. Starting next year he will present year-to-year data.
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Jay Abdella will send copy of the report to the committee
Sperling stated that his current advertising budget averages $1,133/month.
He could reach out to more markets if he had the ad budget.
He pointed out that most searches are for Concord -Lexington. Could that
be separated?
The website is monitored by Sandhya Iyer, Jay Abdella, Ariel Chin, Jackson
Rhodes, and Peyton Dauling.
• Peyton Dauling presented the 2024 Visitors Center Guest Log Demographic
Survey. This included total number of entries, popular days and times,
world and American visitor distribution, and comments.
Minutes:
Pam Fowler moved, and Marsha Baker seconded, approval of the November 25,
2024 minutes.
Marsha Baker, Aye; Margaret Coppe, Aye; Bebe Fallick, Aye; Ting Fang, Aye; Pam
Fowler, Aye; Marie -Tristan Rago, Aye; Elsie Xu, Aye.
The vote was unanimous.
Goals:
The committee will help recruit volunteers for 250th celebration at the Visitors
Center. 40 volunteers needed in 4-5 shifts from 4 AM to 5 PM.
A second goal to establish a set of processes that enable better communication
that improve the visitor experience was acknowledged. More work and discussion
needed.
Countdown Calendar
March 12, 2025
Updates and Miscellaneous
Center Committee: No response from Committee for liaison
Lexington Historical Society: Depot scheduled to reopen April 12, 2025
House tours and admissions were up 17%.
60-80 events are scheduled for 2025.
A full schedule of events is set for Monday, April 21, 2025.
Website and emails: None
Pa
Cultural District: Applications for grants being prepared.
Adjournment
5:11 PM
Marsha moved and Pam Fowler seconded adjournment.
Marsha Baker, Aye; Margaret Coppe, Aye;; Bebe Fallick, Aye; Ting Fang, Aye; Pam
Fowler, Aye; Marie -Tristan Rago, Aye; Elsie Xu, Aye
The vote was unanimous.
Next Meeting: Monday February 24, 2025 at 3:30 PM, Hybrid
Agenda items for February/March include Way Finding Signage and
Communications.
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Respectfully submitted:
Margaret Coppe
12/01/2024